A silent heart attack is a type of heart attack that might have no symptoms, lesser symptoms or unrecognized symptoms. It may not be as obvious as pain in your chest, and it can actually happen without a person knowing it. It happens when the flow of blood is blocked in the coronary arteries by a build up of plaque. Such heart attacks are more common in women than in men.
According to the cardiologists of best cardiology hospital in India, the risk factors for a silent heart attack are the same as those for a recognized heart attack, and include high blood pressure, high cholesterol. Also, smoking, family history of heart disease, obesity and age.
A silent heart attack can be dangerous and often leave scarring and damage to the heart. Plus, it puts the person at greater risk of other heart problems. And, if the person didn’t know to seek treatment, blood flow to the heart might not have been restored early on. So, the impact could potentially be higher.
How Common are Silent Heart Attacks?
According to a research from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC), it has been found that almost half (45%) of heart attacks appear to be clinically silent. These silent heart attacks were picked up by use of a routine electrocardiogram (ECG) and weren’t just a meaningless abnormality picked up on a test. These were associated with a similar risk of subsequent death as clinically detected heart attacks.
What are the 4 Silent Signs of a Heart Attack?
- Chest Pain, Pressure, Fullness, or Discomfort: If the pain from a heart attack is sudden and intense, it can be easily recognized. However, most heart attacks involve only mild pain or discomfort in the center of your chest. There may also be a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness. But, it is possible that these symptoms may be related to something less serious, such as heartburn. So, in case you feel that something is not right, you must get evaluated by a physician or even head to the emergency room.
- Uneasiness in Other Areas of Your Body: A heart attack does not only affect your heart. In fact, you can feel its effects throughout your whole body. You may experience pain or discomfort in your arms, back, neck, jaw and stomach. These symptoms can certainly differ from one person to another. If you experience any of these early signs of heart disease, you should not ignore them rather consult a cardiologist.
- Difficulty in Breathing and Feeling of Dizziness: If you feel tired while you would have walked up only a few stairs it may be a sign that your heart isn’t able to pump blood to the rest of your body. Shortness of breath may be related to a chest pain. It is a common sign of a silent heart attack. You may also feel dizzy or lightheaded as a result of the silent heart attack.
- Nausea and Cold Sweats
Feeing nauseated and waking up in a cold sweat may be symptoms of the flu, but they can also be signs of a silent heart attack. If your flu-like symptoms are something more serious than the usual flu then it is time for you to see a doctor as it could be a heart related issue.
How to Reduce Risk Factors Associated with a Heart Attack?
Although it is not possible to control all your heart attack risk factors, such as aging, gender and heredity, there are some that you can control.
Here Mentioned are Some of the Steps You Can Adopt to Prevent Your Risk of a Silent Heart Attack:-
- You must stop smoking and minimize your exposure to secondhand smoke.
- You must control your high blood cholesterol and blood pressure by modifying your diet, taking medication, etc.
- You must stay physically active daily and control your weight if you are overweight or obese.
- You must take care by sticking to your treatment plan and managing your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
- You must handle stress in your life by practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or yoga.
- You must consume a healthy and balanced diet, rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals and limit your alcohol consumption.
